I've noticed several threads devoted to western music on Buddhist forums, but I've never seen one devoted to eastern music, so I thought I'd create one because I've always loved eastern and eastern-sounding music.

Please post here any 1) traditional eastern music, 2) eastern pop music, or 3) western music which is influenced by eastern music or which is about an Asian country. The definition of "eastern" can be quite broad and may include the music of Eastern European countries which sounds quite eastern.

Okay, traditional music. I have to start off with Ravi Shankar who did a huge amount to popularize eastern music in the west.

I have listened to Radio VerVe, Indian Internet Radio Channel, and there especially Indian Heavy Metal Music. It is what it says, heavy metal music played and produced by indian youngsters! Worth having a try!!

Aemilius wrote:I have listened to Radio VerVe, Indian Internet Radio Channel, and there especially Indian Heavy Metal Music. It is what it says, heavy metal music played and produced by indian youngsters! Worth having a try!!

Cool. Maybe you could post some links to the music of those artists.

I just discovered Uyghur music lately. A lot of it sounds very eastern.

Did you know that the second song on this list (Vietnamese pop) is originally a Moldovan pop hit?

1Myriad dharmas are only mind. Mind is unobtainable. What is there to seek?2If the Buddha-Nature is seen,there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.3Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.4With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,the six paramitas and myriad meansare complete within that essence.

As far as traditional music goes, the oud is a great Arab instrument. The way it's played reminds me a lot of flamenco guitar. I would imagine that the Moors brought ouds with them when they invaded Spain.

There was a period in my life, in the mid 90's, when all I listened to and played was North Indian Classical music, especially Nikil Bannerjee and Ali Akbar Khan, but also Vilayat Khan, Ravi Shanker, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Imrat Khan...and ZM Dagar playing Rudra Vina--mind-blowing stuff.

I've heard more than my fair share of Tibetan "pop" music....there are a few good performers, and then there are thousands of guys and girls with "okay" voices, making tapes and CD's in garages in Nepal and India, with computers and pro tools, cheap keyboards and drum machines....ugh.

I've also listened to tons of Nepali music, folk and popular....some good stuff out there,and it has a different vibe from Indian and Tibetan stuff. And I've heard my fair share of Bollywood music, too...some of which is outrageously good, actually.

I was on a Pipa kick a while back, and listened to a lot of Pipa music, traditional stuff mainly, from Min xiao Feng and, I think, Wu Man? Pipa is a cool instrument...in fact, I like any instrument with strings.

I also like World Fusion music, and I think the future of Jazz/Rock Fusion lies with those who bring new, World Music, elements to the table, without sacrificing the jazz energy and improv.

"Absolute Truth is not an object of analytical discourse or great discriminating wisdom,It is realized through the blessing grace of the Guru and fortunate Karmic potential.Like this, mistaken ideas of discriminating wisdom are clarified."

May any merit generated by on-line discussionBe dedicated to the Ultimate Benefit of All Sentient Beings.